Started in 1895, the Miami Cycle Manufacturing Company was building bicycles and Motorcycles using names Racycle, and Miami. In 1911, it purchased Merkel wth all production moved to Middletown Ohio. This acquisition gave Miami Cycle Manufacturing the high-end motorcycle model that it needed to be regarded as a premiere manufacturer. The Racycle was the lower priced alternative to the very successful Flying Merkels dominating on the street and track thanks to engineering innovation and high manufacturing quality. (The onset of war, a contracting market, and increased competition caused production of the Flying Merkel to falter. The final Merkel motorcycles were produced in 1917. (photography @ Doug Mitchel)